Guilty ruling in Okinawa murder case against US national

TOKYO — A former U.S. Marine who was working as a civilian contractor on a U.S. base in Okinawa Prefecture has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of the rape and murder of a local woman in April last year.

Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, 33, of New York, had admitted the charge of rape resulting in death and abandoning the body of 20-year-old Rina Shimabukuro, but denied intent to murder.

Prosecutors pointed out that Shinzato had attacked his victim with a metal bar and a knife around 10 p.m. on the evening . . .

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